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Tamara Kovacevic
BBC Verify senior journalist

Image source, PA Media

As we mentioned first thing this morning, MPs in the UK’s House of Commons are debating a new law which would allow assisted dying in England and Wales.

During this morning’s session MPs approved an amendment which prevents those who voluntarily stop eating or drinking from meeting the requirement to be allowed help to die.

It’s one of the measures aimed at closing what has been called the “anorexia loophole” – a concern that the new law could be used by people with eating disorders to end their lives.

Anorexia is an eating disorder and a serious mental health condition, according to the NHS, external.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists warned yesterday about the risk of people “whose mental disorders have physical impacts” potentially being eligible for assisted dying.

Dr Annabel Price, the college’s lead on assisted dying, told BBC Verify: “Malnutrition caused by anorexia nervosa, for example, has been deemed as a terminal illness under similar pieces of legislation in other jurisdictions”.

According to a 2024 study at least 60 people with eating disorders underwent assisted dying between 2012 and 2024, external based on documented cases in the US, the Netherlands and Belgium.

The Netherlands and Belgium allow assisted dying for mental health issues.